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The Sweeney and March Show

An incredibly funny sketch duo who got together late in the Radio Era.

Sweeney and March Show

27 old time radio show recordings
(total playtime 10 hours, 196 min)
available in the following formats:

1 MP3 CD
or
11 Audio CDs


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Play a sample episode from September 26, 1947:

"Enlisting In National Guard"



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Text on OTRCAT.com ©2001-2024 OTRCAT INC All Rights Reserved. Reproduction is prohibited.

Ever since the first caveman slipped on a banana peel and followed it up by regaling his cave neighbors with jokes, the conventional wisdom has been that in comedy, timing is everything. For example, let's look at the team of Sweeney and March, who could have been one of the biggest duos in vaudeville, except for the fact that they didn't begin working together until the War Years, well after vaudeville became a memory.

Bob Sweeny and Hal MarchBob Sweeney (b. 1918) and Hal March (born Harold Mendelson, 1920) were both San Francisco natives who began appearing together in local Los Angeles radio programs in the mid-Forties and won favorable reviews in the press. Their routines resemble a slightly toned-down Abbott and Costello (who came up through the Burlesque circuit, an offshoot of vaudeville). Sweeney played the wide-eyed and sometimes naïve buffoon, although generally much less over-the-top than Lou Costello, and March was the scheming (though with less cynicism than Bud Abbott) straight man.

The pair were first teamed on The New Hoagy Carmichael Show, providing a sketch per episode. CBS gave them their own show in 1946, with several (usually unrelated) sketches each week. Later that autumn, their vocal group, The Starlighters (Pauline Byrns, Vince Degen, Tony Paris, Howard Hudson, and Andy Williams, yes, that Andy Williams) had an engagement to back Jo Stafford in New York, so then up-and-coming singer Doris Day stepped in for a few weeks.

The sketch comedy eventually devolved into a more predictable situation comedy with the pair playing down and out radio comics who shared the smallest office at the CBS Studios and often found adventure and trouble relating to Sweeney's love for Outdoor Boy magazine. CBS canceled the program late in 1948, but they were revived as a quarter-hour daily program on ABC in 1951.

Bob Sweeney and Hal March went on to have separate careers in television. March appeared in several TV sitcoms, including a recurring role on The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. He got what should have been his big break when he was selected to host The $64.000 Question, but the ensuing TV Quiz Show Scandal all but shattered his career. Nonetheless, he is remembered by two Stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, one at 6536 Hollywood Blvd for Television and the other for Radio at 1560 Vine St.

After teaming with Eve Arden and Gale Gordon on the TV version of Our Miss Brooks for the 1956 and 1957 seasons, Gordon and Sweeney costarred in The Brothers on CBS. His supposed big break came when he was selected to costar with Cathy Lewis in the TV version of Fibber McGee and Molly, but even with more than three decades of Radio success, Jim and Marian Jordan's characters did not fit on TV, and the program was canceled before the season ended. Bob Sweeney would enjoy a good deal of success as a TV director and was nominated for a directing Emmy on three different occasions. Cancer finally took Bob Sweeney in 1992.

Text on OTRCAT.com ©2001-2024 OTRCAT INC All Rights Reserved. Reproduction is prohibited.

These classic recordings are available in the following formats:

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    COMMENTS

    Solid comedy in the later episodes. Great running gags. And I love the mention of Daly City! My family is from Daly City CA.

    Michael Verified Purchase

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  • MP3 CDs are delivered by mail. These archival quality MP3 CDs are playable in your computer and many MP3 player devices.



    27 recordings on 1 MP3 CD for just $5.00. Total playtime 10 hours, 196 min
    27 recordings on 1 MP3 CD for just $5.00
    total playtime 10 hours, 196 min
    Add MP3 CD Collection to Cart

    1. 27 shows – total playtime 10 hours, 3 minutes
    2. Sweeney And March Show 440906 Voters Friend Audition.mp3
    3. Sweeney And March Show 460914 Bobs House On Fire.mp3
    4. Sweeney And March Show 461012 Hals Running Dream Store.mp3
    5. Sweeney And March Show 461111 Grasshopper And Ant.mp3
    6. Sweeney And March Show 470000 Trip To Antartic.mp3
    7. Sweeney And March Show 470217 Barn Dance.mp3
    8. Sweeney And March Show 470407 Looking For New Writer.mp3
    9. Sweeney And March Show 470531.mp3
    10. Sweeney And March Show 470607 Gambling Trouble.mp3
    11. Sweeney And March Show 470614 Summer Camp.mp3
    12. Sweeney And March Show 470906 Looking For New Boarder.mp3
    13. Sweeney And March Show 470920 Prison Work Farm.mp3
    14. Sweeney And March Show 470927 Enlisting In National Guard.mp3
    15. Sweeney And March Show 480820 Rent Is Due Pt1 Rehearsal.mp3
    16. Sweeney And March Show 480820 Rent Is Due Pt2 Rehearsal.mp3
    17. Sweeney And March Show 480901 Bob Plans Join Army Reh Pt1.mp3
    18. Sweeney And March Show 480901 Bob Plans Join Army Reh Pt2.mp3
    19. Sweeney And March Show 480915 10th Anniversary Pt1 Reh..mp3
    20. Sweeney And March Show 480915 10th Anniversary Pt2 Reh.mp3
    21. Sweeney And March Show 480922 Pt1 Writing Book Rehersal.mp3
    22. Sweeney And March Show 480922 Pt2 Writing Book Rehersal.mp3
    23. Sweeney And March Show 481001 Staying Home Alone.mp3
    24. Sweeney And March Show 490910 Beach Rescue.mp3
    25. Sweeney And March Show 510612 Going To Dentist Reh. Partial.mp3
    26. Sweeney And March Show Audition Pt1.mp3
    27. Sweeney And March Show Audition Pt2.mp3
    28. Thats Life 461224 Sweeney And March Interview.mp3
  • MP3 downloads are available instantly after purchase!



    27 recordings on 1 MP3 Collection Download for just $5.00. Total playtime 10 hours, 196 min
    27 recordings on 1 MP3 Collection Download for just $5.00
    276 MB – total playtime 10 hours, 3 min
    Add Instant Download Collection to Cart

    1. 27 shows – 276 MB – total playtime 10 hours, 3 minutes
    2. Sweeney And March Show 440906 Voters Friend Audition.mp3
    3. Sweeney And March Show 460914 Bobs House On Fire.mp3
    4. Sweeney And March Show 461012 Hals Running Dream Store.mp3
    5. Sweeney And March Show 461111 Grasshopper And Ant.mp3
    6. Sweeney And March Show 470000 Trip To Antartic.mp3
    7. Sweeney And March Show 470217 Barn Dance.mp3
    8. Sweeney And March Show 470407 Looking For New Writer.mp3
    9. Sweeney And March Show 470531.mp3
    10. Sweeney And March Show 470607 Gambling Trouble.mp3
    11. Sweeney And March Show 470614 Summer Camp.mp3
    12. Sweeney And March Show 470906 Looking For New Boarder.mp3
    13. Sweeney And March Show 470920 Prison Work Farm.mp3
    14. Sweeney And March Show 470927 Enlisting In National Guard.mp3
    15. Sweeney And March Show 480820 Rent Is Due Pt1 Rehearsal.mp3
    16. Sweeney And March Show 480820 Rent Is Due Pt2 Rehearsal.mp3
    17. Sweeney And March Show 480901 Bob Plans Join Army Reh Pt1.mp3
    18. Sweeney And March Show 480901 Bob Plans Join Army Reh Pt2.mp3
    19. Sweeney And March Show 480915 10th Anniversary Pt1 Reh..mp3
    20. Sweeney And March Show 480915 10th Anniversary Pt2 Reh.mp3
    21. Sweeney And March Show 480922 Pt1 Writing Book Rehersal.mp3
    22. Sweeney And March Show 480922 Pt2 Writing Book Rehersal.mp3
    23. Sweeney And March Show 481001 Staying Home Alone.mp3
    24. Sweeney And March Show 490910 Beach Rescue.mp3
    25. Sweeney And March Show 510612 Going To Dentist Reh. Partial.mp3
    26. Sweeney And March Show Audition Pt1.mp3
    27. Sweeney And March Show Audition Pt2.mp3
    28. Thats Life 461224 Sweeney And March Interview.mp3
  • Standard Audio CDs are delivered by mail on archival quality media with up to 60 minutes on each CD and play in all CD players



    27 recordings on 11 Audio CDs. Total playtime 10 hours, 3 min
    27 recordings on 11 Audio CDs
    total playtime 10 hours, 3 min

    Sweeney and March Show Disc A001

    1. Sweeney And March Show Audition Pt1
    2. Sweeney And March Show Audition Pt2
    3. Sweeney And March Show 440906 Voters Friend Audition

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Sweeney and March Show Disc A002

    1. Sweeney And March Show 460914 Bobs House On Fire
    2. Sweeney And March Show 461012 Hals Running Dream Store

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Sweeney and March Show Disc A003

    1. Sweeney And March Show 461111 Grasshopper And Ant
    2. Thats Life 461224 Sweeney And March Interview
    3. Sweeney And March Show 470000 Trip To Antartic

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Sweeney and March Show Disc A004

    1. Sweeney And March Show 470217 Barn Dance
    2. Sweeney And March Show 470407 Looking For New Writer

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Sweeney and March Show Disc A005

    1. Sweeney And March Show 470531
    2. Sweeney And March Show 470607 Gambling Trouble

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Sweeney and March Show Disc A006

    1. Sweeney And March Show 470614 Summer Camp
    2. Sweeney And March Show 470906 Looking For New Boarder

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Sweeney and March Show Disc A007

    1. Sweeney And March Show 470920 Prison Work Farm
    2. Sweeney And March Show 470927 Enlisting In National Guard

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Sweeney and March Show Disc A008

    1. Sweeney And March Show 480820 Rent Is Due Pt1 Rehearsal
    2. Sweeney And March Show 480820 Rent Is Due Pt2 Rehearsal

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Sweeney and March Show Disc A009

    1. Sweeney And March Show 480901 Bob Plans Join Army Reh Pt1
    2. Sweeney And March Show 480901 Bob Plans Join Army Reh Pt2
    3. Sweeney And March Show 480915 10th Anniversary Pt1 Reh.

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Sweeney and March Show Disc A010

    1. Sweeney And March Show 480915 10th Anniversary Pt2 Reh
    2. Sweeney And March Show 480922 Pt1 Writing Book Rehersal
    3. Sweeney And March Show 480922 Pt2 Writing Book Rehersal

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Sweeney and March Show Disc A011

    1. Sweeney And March Show 481001 Staying Home Alone
    2. Sweeney And March Show 490910 Beach Rescue
    3. Sweeney And March Show 510612 Going To Dentist Reh. Partial

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00

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